The Alexander Chronicles Year 4: The Return of Darkness

by the22nddoctor

Many things have changed in Alexander s life, his mother is in Azkaban and he have learned that he is the son of Sirius Black. This year Alex has to battle both his inner darkness that is growing stronger inside him, and the outside darkness that is returning stronger than ever, not even Hogwarts is safe. Beside that, he have to deal with being a teenager. Have been rewritten.

25. Chapter 25: How to breath under water

The Alexander Chronicles Year 4: The Return of Darkness.

Chapter 25: How to breath under water.

…

The rest of the Yule ball was amazing after their kiss Alex and Lisa had gone back at the Great Hall, where they just had danced and talked until the teachers had told everyone to go to bed at midnight.

Once he got back to the common room, he found it pretty empty people had either gone to bed or attended to some of the unofficial parties, that Alex knew was taken place around the castle. The only ones that was in the room was, Ron and Hermione. Ron and Hermione appeared to be in a huge argument, either of them noticed that Alex had walked in.

"How can´t you not see it, you are flirting with the enemy." Ron bellowed.

"The enemy?" Hermione screamed back, "This tournament is about making friends with other wizards from other nations."

Ron crossed his arms. "No it is about winning, beside Vicky," he said the name mockingly. "Is properly only using you to get information on Harry that he can give to his headmaster."

"Don´t call him Vicky," Hermione hissed. "and if you must know then me and Victor haven´t discussed Harry or anything like that."

"Yeah then what would he talk about with you then? S.P.E.W maybe?"

"Excuse me? As it happens Victor and I have many things to talk about as it happens he like academics too and he likes to talk with those that isn´t fanboying or fangirling over him."

"Oh please!" Ron snorted. "That is the lamest excuse ever. You should really begin to show better judgement Hermione. First Black and now Krum"

"That is none of your concern," Hermione shouted her hair was coming down out of its elegant bun now, and her face was screwed up in anger. "But if you don´t like who I am going with, then you know what the solution is don´t you."

"Oh yeah," Ron yelled back, "what is it then?"

"Well Ronald, the next time there is a ball ask me before someone else does, and not as the last resort."

Ron mouthed soundlessly like a goldfish out of water as Hermione turned on her heel and stormed up the girls' staircase to bed, "Well that went well Weasley," Alex said as walked passed Ron, surprising him before going to the dormitory that only where Harry was alone, after muttering a small goodnight Alex went to bed.

…

Alex woke up late at Boxing Day, although not as late as his fellow Gryffindors. He laid in his bed for serval minutes listening to his dorm mates snores as he thought about what had happened last night. It had been fun spending it with Lisa, and the kissing part had been strange, surprising but nice. It had been his first kiss, but he was pretty sure that he had done okay.

Alex laid and relaxed for few more minutes before deciding to head to breakfast since it still was served for another thirty minutes. He hurried though the unusual empty common room and went to the Great Hall. It wasn´t just the Gryffindor that was sleeping in, almost each house table only had a few students sitting at them. Alex was just about to go sit at his house table when he saw Lisa sitting at the Ravenclaw table, where she was wavering him over. "Hey," Alex said as he sat next to her.

"Morning," Lisa said as she leaned in and kissed him on the cheek she then paused before kissing him again this time on the lips making a few people whistle. Alex felt himself blush since it was a bit weird if kissing in public. So was Lisa expecting that he would kiss her as well, no he didn´t want that, instead he hold her hand.

"So thanks for yesterday. It was pretty great."

Lisa nodded, "yeah it was – so do you have anything planed for the Christmas."

"Yeah uh finishing up the last homework with my friends from Slytherin, and working on the Second Task."

"The last homework? How much have you left?"

"Just Potions, and Healing." Alex said taking a bite of his bacon.

"You are luckily; I have Arithmancy, Herbology and Potions."

"Uh do you want to join in, at the Potion stuff?"

"Okay," once again Lisa leaned in and kissed him on the cheek making Alex blush again. After they had finished eating, Alex walked Lisa over to the Ravenclaw tower and after a quick kiss he went back to his own common room.

He was about halfway when he ran into Cedric Diggory. "Black I was looking for you."

Alex was a bit warry. He and Cedric hadn´t really spoken since the First Task and since Cedric had thanked him for the help. Alex knew that Cedric didn´t like him that much, and Alex didn´t really cared that much for the Hufflepuff either. "Yes."

"I haven´t forgotten that you helped me with the First Task."

"As I said, you didn´t dersve to be the only one that didn't´ know." Alex began. "Look now that I am in this mess I want to give my all. I want to see if I can win, but I want to win by playing fair. Otherwise it wouldn´t count."

"Sounds like the ambition of a Slytherin."

"Maybe it is."

Cedric smiled. "Good. However I feel the same, so I don´t want to owe you anything when I win."

"You really don´t owe me anything. You would have told me about the dragons as well."

"Still, I want to tell you something about the Golden Egg." Cedric said slowly and then whispered. "Try holding it under water."

"Come seek us where our voices sound." Alex quoted.

"So you know." Cedric said sounding surprised. "Wow I just figured it out in mid-December."

"Still thanks for heads up Diggory, but as I said I intend to win."

"As do I."

"Let the best man win then." Alex finished glaring at Diggory who glared back. Both boys wanted to win and prove that they were the better wizard.

…

The Gryffindor common room was a bit fuller then before. Harry, Ron and Hermione had gotten up as well, was now seating in a corner talking quietly while eating candy for breakfast.

"So, you finally up!" Alex said as he walked over.

"Yeah where have you been?" Harry asked looking at Alex.

"Down for breakfast, some of us woke up in time."

"Well there is something I need to tell you." Harry said sounding serious, Ron and Hermione had a worried look on their faces as well. So Alex sat and waited for Harry to continue. "Okay it is about Hagrid, Ron and I heard him and Madam Maxime talk yesterday and-"

"Yeah the guy has a crush on her- so what?"

"No that is not that, just hear me out okay." Harry said, "Look they were taking about their heritage, and Hagrid mentioned his mother and that she was a giant."

Alex watched as the trio looked at him. Alex was a bit surprised, but in retrospect it didn´t seemed that strange, and even then, it was still Hagrid. "Come on guys, I mean yeah it is surprising, but Hagrid is still well Hagrid."

"That is not the point Alex. Look the giants well they are-"

"I know what they are Hermione, but what is the point."

"Look Black the giants isn´t misunderstood. They are bad, killing is in their blood just like trolls."

"I said I know what they are Weasley, but still it is Hagrid we are talking about. He is a good guy no matter where he comes from, this is just the same prejudice that werewolf gets."

…

Alex stayed in the Gryffindor common room and hung with the golden trio, he was a bit surprised that Ron and Hermione was so friendly to each other, but it seemed that they had decided that their augments last night hadn´t happened. After lunch, he met up with Lisa again and two walked across the school talking about their relationship and made it official. However, the time they could spend together was a bit limited due to the homework load that most students had neglected in the first week now had to be taken care off, even though Alex had taken care of the most there was still Potions and Healing. Then there was the second task, he hadn't been working on it ever since he discovered what the clue was. Alex was grateful that he had his study group; they were the main reason that most of his homework were complete.

Alex knew that they should be introduced to Lisa at one point as should the Golden trio, but it felt weird with the Slytherins mostly because he still had strong feelings for Daphne. They were still there even though he tried focusing on those he had for Lisa. Still it didn´t changed the fact he had to tell them about Lisa. He had promised Daphne that much, just as he had promised Lisa that could study potions together.

The chance to introduce his new girlfriend came when it was time for the Potions homework.

"Hey Alex, and uh Lisa uh welcome." Blaise said Alex and Lisa walked up to the table where the Slytherins, and Erik were sitting.

Everybody looked surprise at seeing Lisa with Alex, "Hey Lisa, I didn´t know I would be here." Daphne said with a forced smile as she noticed how close the two of them were standing. "With Alex."

"Uh Yeah uh Daphne you see uh L-Lisa and I a-are uh," Alex begun awkwardly while looking at Daphne wondering why it was so hard to say. "You see we are sort of uh she is my girlfriend." He finished while blushing madly.

"You guys are dating?" Daphne asked glaring at Lisa, while the others just looked surprised at the news.

"Yes," Lisa said grabbing Alex´s hand. "We are dating." She said looking at Daphne.

"When did it happened?" Daphne asked looking at Alex, who let go of Lisa´s hand and walked over to her.

"Uh at the Yule ball, we uh just sort of just happened,"

"Oh I see," Daphne, said looking away.

"Did you uh had a good time at the ball with Silan I mean?" Alex looking at Daphne who looked back.

"Yeah it was great, it was fun and you knew; we danced and stuff."

"Well it is a pleasure," Lisa said offering her hand to Daphne, who shocked it. Lisa smiled and gave Alex a quick kiss on the lips making Daphne look away.

"So uh we have a lot work so we should begin." She said opening her potion book, as Lisa greeted the rest of the members of the group and soon after they were all working. Alex felt a bit awkward working with the two girls, and he wasn´t even aware of the glances that sent each other when he wasn´t looking, but beside that they finished their homework.

…

The first day of the new term arrived, and Alex set off to lessons, weighed down with books, parchment, and quills as usual, but also with the lurking worry of the task heavy in his stomach, as though he were carrying that around with him too.

Snow was still thick upon the grounds, and the greenhouse windows were covered in condensation so thick that they couldn't see out of them in Herbology. Nobody was looking forward to Care of Magical Creatures much in this weather, though as Ron said, the skrewts would probably warm them up nicely, either by chasing them, or blasting off so forcefully that Hagrid's cabin would catch fire.

When they arrived at Hagrid's cabin, however, they found an elderly witch with closely cropped grey hair and a very prominent chin standing before his front door.

"Hurry up, now, the bell rang five minutes ago," she barked at them as they struggled toward her through the snow.

"Who're you?" Ron said, staring at her. "Where is Hagrid?"

"My name is Professor Grubbly-Plank," she said briskly. "I am your temporary Care of Magical Creatures teacher."

"Where's Hagrid?" Harry repeated loudly.

"He is indisposed," said Professor Grubbly-Plank shortly.

Soft and unpleasant laughter reached Alex´s ears. He turned; Theodore Nott, and the rest of the Slytherins were joining the class. Some of them looked gleeful, and his friends worried but none of them looked surprised to see Professor Grubbly-Plank.

"This way, please," said Professor Grubbly-Plank, and she strode off around the paddock where the Beauxbatons horses were shivering. Alex, Harry, Ron, Hermione followed her, looking back over their shoulders at Hagrid's cabin. All the curtains were closed, making Alex wonder what had happened, was Hagrid ill or had he left.

"What's wrong with Hagrid?" Harry said, hurrying to catch up with Professor Grubbly-Plank.

"Never you mind," she said in a tone that clearly said that she thought he was being nosy.

"I do mind, though," Harry said hotly. "What's up with him?"

Professor Grubbly-Plank acted as though she couldn't hear Harry. She led them past the paddock where the huge Beauxbatons horses were standing, huddled against the cold and toward a tree on the edge of the forest, where a large and beautiful unicorn was tethered.

Many of the girls "ooooohed!" at the sight of the unicorn. "Oh it's so beautiful!" Lavender Brown whispered. "How did she get it? They're supposed to be really hard to catch!"

The unicorn was so brightly white it made the snow all around look grey. It was pawing the ground nervously with its golden hooves and throwing back its horned head.

"Boys keep back!" barked Professor Grubbly-Plank, throwing out an arm and catching Harry hard in the chest. "They prefer the woman's touch, unicorns. Girls to the front, and approach with care, come on, easy does it…"

She and the girls walked slowly forward toward the unicorn, leaving the boys standing near the paddock fence, watching. The moment Professor Grubbly-Plank was out of earshot. Harry turned to Alex and Ron.

"What d'you reckons wrong with him? You don't think a skrewt -?"

"Oh he hasn't been attacked, Potter, if that's what you're thinking," Nott said softly. "No, he's just too ashamed to show his big, ugly face."

"And what is that supposed to mean Nott?" Alex said sharply, looking at Blaise and Draco wondering if they knew, it seemed like they did as they looked concerned, he was about to ask them when Nott put his hand inside the pocket of his robes and pulled out a folded page of newsprint.

"I suppose you haven´t the news Black," Nott laughed, "yeah it is really bad, I mean Potter you should really see this – so you can well get to know you friends better. I mean this is just bad."

He smirked as Alex snatched the page, unfolded it, and read it, with Harry, Ron, Seamus, Dean, and Neville looking over his shoulder. It was an article topped with a picture of Hagrid looking extremely shifty.

DUMBLEDORE'S GIANT MISTAKE

Albus Dumbledore, eccentric Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, has never been afraid to make controversial staff appointments, writes Rita Skeeter, Special Correspondent. In September of this year, he hired Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody, the notoriously jinx-happy ex-Auror, to teach Defence Against the Dark Arts, a decision that caused many raised eyebrows at the Ministry of Magic, given Moody's well-known habit of attacking anybody who makes a sudden movement in his presence. Mad-Eye Moody, however, looks responsible and kindly when set beside the part-human Dumbledore employs to teach Care of Magical Creatures.

Rubeus Hagrid, who admits to being expelled from Hogwarts in his third year, has enjoyed the position of gamekeeper at the school ever since a job secured for him by Dumbledore. Last year, however, Hagrid used his mysterious influence over the headmaster to secure the additional post of Care of Magical Creatures teacher, over the heads of many better-qualified candidates.

An alarmingly large and ferocious-looking man, Hagrid has been using his newfound authority to terrify the students in his care with a succession of horrific creatures. While Dumbledore turns a blind eye, Hagrid has maimed several pupils during a series of lessons that many admit to being "very frightening." 'Draco Malfoy was attacked by a hippogriff, and my friend Vincent Crabbe got a bad bite off a flobberworm," says Theodore Nott, a fourth-year student. "We all hate Hagrid, but we're just too scared to say anything." Despite the incident with the hippogriff was reported by Lucius Malfoy there was no conserves for the half-giant.

It seems Hagrid has no intention of ceasing his campaign of intimidation, however. In conversation with a Daily Prophet reporter last month, he admitted breeding creatures he has dubbed "Blast-Ended Skrewts," highly dangerous crosses between manticores and fire-crabs. The creation of new breeds of magical creature is, of course, an activity usually closely observed by the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. Hagrid, however, considers himself to be above such petty restrictions.

"I was just having some fun," he says, before hastily changing the subject. As if this were not enough, the Daily Prophet has now unearthed evidence that Hagrid is not - as he has always pretended - a pure-blood wizard. He is not, in fact, even pure human. His mother, we can exclusively reveal, is none other than the giantess Fridwulfa, whose whereabouts are currently unknown. Bloodthirsty and brutal, the giants brought themselves to the point of extinction by warring amongst themselves during the last century. The handful that remained joined the ranks of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, and were responsible for some of the worst mass Muggle killings of his reign of terror.

While many of the giants who served He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named were killed by Aurors working against the Dark Side, Fridwulfa was not among them. It is possible she escaped to one of the giant communities still existing in foreign mountain ranges. If his antics during Care of Magical Creatures lessons are any guide, however, Fridwulfa's son appears to have inherited her brutal nature.

In a bizarre twist, Hagrid is reputed to have developed a close friendship with the boy who brought around You-Know-Who's fall from power - thereby driving Hagrid's own mother, like the rest of You-Know-Who's supporters, into hiding. Perhaps Harry is unaware of the unpleasant truth about his large friend – but Albus Dumbledore surely has a duty to ensure that Harry and our young Hogwarts champion Alexander Black, along with their fellow students, are warned about the dangers of associating with part-giants.

Alex finished reading and looked up at Ron, Harry and Neville whose mouths were hanging open.

"How did she find out?" Ron whispered to Harry.

"What d'you mean, 'we all hate Hagrid'?" Harry spat at Nott. "What's this rubbish about him" - he pointed at Crabbe - "getting a bad bite off a flobberworm? They haven't even got teeth!"

Crabbe was sniggering, apparently very pleased with himself. Alex looked up at Draco who seemed embarrassed about being mentioned in the article.

"Well, I think this should put an end to the oaf's teaching career," Nott said smugly making Alex look at him. "Half-giant how sad can it be and here I thought that the fool just swallowed a bottle of Skele-Gro when he was young." Alex clench his fists as Nott continued smirking even more. "This is even better I mean none of the mummies and daddies are going to like this at all they'll be worried he'll eat their kids, ha, ha, So what do you think Potter how long with that oaf you call a friend be a teacher "

"You slimily- " Alex quickly grabbed Harry before he could even lay a finger on the laughing Nott. Although Alex would very much like to hurt Nott as well.

"Are you paying attention over there?"

Professor Grubbly-Planks voice carried over to the boys; the rest of the girls were all clustered around the unicorn now, stroking it.

Alex was so angry that the Daily Prophet article shook in his hands as he turned to stare unseeingly at the unicorn, whose many magical properties Professor Grubbly-Plank was now enumerating in a loud voice, so that the group standing away from the unicorn could hear too.

"I hope she stays, that woman!" said Parvati Patil when the lesson had ended and they were all heading back to the castle for lunch. "That's more what I thought Care of Magical Creatures would be like…proper creatures like unicorns, not monsters…"

"What about Hagrid?" Harry said angrily as they went up the steps.

"What about him?" said Parvati sneered, ever since the Yule ball she had been very hostile towards Harry. "He can still be gamekeeper, can't he Harry?"

"That was a really good lesson," said Hermione as they entered the Great Hall. "I didn't know half the things Professor Grubbly-Plank told us about uni -"

"Yeah here is the reason she was teaching!" Alex snarled, and shoved the Daily Prophet article Hermione´s hands.

Hermione's mouth fell open as she read. Her reaction was exactly the same as Ron's. "How did that horrible Skeeter woman find out? You don't think Hagrid told her?"

No," Harry said, leading the way over to the Gryffindor table and throwing himself into a chair, furious. "He never even told us, did he? I reckon she was so mad he wouldn't give her loads of horrible stuff about me and Alex, so she went ferreting around to get him back."

Alex looked at Harry, "could she have heard him tell Madame Maxime at the ball?" he asked.

"But we would have seen her in the garden!" Harry said. "Trust me there was no one there. Beside, she's not supposed to come into school anymore, Hagrid said Dumbledore banned her."

"Still she could have been there anyway; she could have an Invisibility Cloak are you sure you didn´t see her."

"Yes Alex," Harry hissed ladling chicken casserole onto his plate and splashing it everywhere in his anger, "I am sure didn´t see her. I am not stupid you know. But yeah she must have been hiding it is just the sort of thing she'd do, isn't it, hide in bushes listening to people."

"Like you and Ron did!" Alex said dryly.

We weren't trying to hear him!" Ron said indignantly. "We didn't have any choice! The stupid prat, talking about his giantess mother where anyone could have heard him!"

"We've got to go and see him," said Harry. "This evening, after Divination. Tell him we want him back…you do want him back?" he shot at Hermione.

"I - well, I'm not going to pretend it didn't make a nice change, having a proper Care of Magical Creatures lesson for once - but I do want Hagrid back, of course I do!" Hermione added hastily, quailing under Harry's and Ron's furious stares.

"Look, calm down. No one is happy about this okay. We just have to talk with him." Alex said looking over at the Slytherin table first at Daphne who were talking with Tracey, then at Blaise he was gastrulating that he wanted to talk. "Anyway I talk to your guys later." He added before heading towards the entrance hall were Blaise was heading as well.

"So what happen with the article?" Alex asked once they were alone.

"Nott acting like an arse. You know that none of us had anything to do with it." Blaise said making Alex nod. "Anyway that is not what I wanted to ask. Just what are you thinking?"

"What do you mean?"

"With Lisa what are you doing?"

Alex looked around cheeking if they were along, since it was the case, he continued. "We are dating, you where the one that told me to ask her out."

"Yeah I told you to take her to the ball, not snog her – look what about Daphne?"

"What about her?" Alex said not looking Blaise in the eyes.

"Wasn´t you in to her?"

Alex´s flickered, "keep it down and she doesn´t like me that way she likes Silan."

"Oh please that won´t last." Blaise said, "Look I am not saying that you should dump Lisa if you like her, but if you don´t you are just cruel."

"I do," Alex said while signing.

"But Daphne you like her too right?" Alex once again looked around before nodding. "Okay who do you like most then?"

…

That evening after dinner, the four Gryffindors left the castle once more and went down through the frozen grounds to Hagrid's cabin. They knocked, and Fang's booming barks answered.

"Hagrid, it's us!" Harry shouted, pounding on the door. "Open up!"

Hagrid didn't answer. They could hear Fang scratching at the door, whining, but it didn't open. They hammered on it for ten more minutes; Ron even went and banged on one of the windows, but there was no response.

"What's he avoiding us for?" Hermione said when they had finally given up and were walking back to the school. "He surely doesn't think we'd care about him being half-giant?"

But it seemed that Hagrid did care. They didn't see a sign of him all week. He didn't appear at the staff table at mealtimes, they didn't see him going about his gamekeeper duties on the grounds, and Professor Grubbly-Plank continued to take the Care of Magical Creatures classes. Nott was gloating at every possible opportunity.

"Missing your half-breed pal?" he kept whispering to the Gryffindors whenever there was a teacher around, so that he were safe from retaliation. "Missing the elephant man?" It took all of Alex´s will power not to curse him to oblivion. To make matters worse for Alex at least, Skeeter next article was about him and Lisa, Alex wasn´t really surprised, but it was bit embracing that the whole country knowing about his love life, but at least there was no mention of Daphne.

But since the cat was out of the bag, Alex asked Lisa to go with him since there was a Hogsmeade visit halfway through January. He was still a bit unsure about his feelings for her and Daphne, he sort hoped it just were a reaction of getting a girlfriend. They left the castle Saturday and set off through the cold, wet grounds toward the gates. As they passed the Durmstrang ship moored in the lake, they saw Viktor Krum emerge onto the deck, dressed in nothing but swimming trunks. He was very skinny indeed, but apparently a lot tougher than he looked, because he climbed up onto the side of the ship, stretched out his arms, and dived, right into the lake.

"He is mad!" Alex said, staring at Krum's dark head as it bobbed out into the middle of the lake. "It's freezing, it's January!"

Lisa gave Alex´s hand squeeze, "you know it is a lot colder where he is coming from sweetie. So it must be warm to him, beside shouldn't you also consider exploring the lake a bit."

Alex shrugged but didn´t say anything instead; he wondered if Fleur also knew that the Second Task would take place under water.

Once they had gotten to Hogsmeade the couple walked around looking at the shops while holding hands and just had a great time after an hour they to go to the Three Broomsticks. The pub was crowed, but Lisa manged to find a small table in the corner, once Alex returned with the butterbears, Lisa pulled him in a deep kiss as soon as he sat. "Been waiting for a chance of doing all day," she whispered as she pulled away.

"Well allow me to return the favour," Alex said kissed Lisa.

They spend a lot of the time in the pub, just holding hands, drinking their butterbear and kissing, yeah a lot of kissing. They were just about leave when Alex saw Ludo Bagmann approve them. "Alexander my boy!" he exclaimed, "I was hoping to run in to you, how are you?"

"Fine thanks."

"And who is your lady friend?"

"Uh this is Lisa Turpin," Alex introduced.

"Yes I read you had a girlfriend now," Bagman said, "anyway I was wondering if I could speak with you in private."

Lisa nodded and told Alex she would met him outside.

Bagman led Harry along the bar to the end furthest from Madam Rosmerta.

"Well, I just thought I'd congratulate you again on your splendid performance against that Horntail, Alexander," said Bagman.

Alex frowned Bagman could have done that in front of Lisa, so he kept his face neutral and waited. Bagman didn't seem in any particular rush to spill the beans, though. Alex saw him glance into the mirror over the bar at some goblins, who were all watching them.

"Absolute nightmare," said Bagman to Harry in an undertone, noticing Alex watching the goblins. "Their English isn't too good . . . it's like being back with all the Bulgarians at the Quidditch World Cup . . . but at least they used sign language another human could recognize. This lot keep gabbling in Gobbledegook

. . . and I only know one word of Gobbledegook. Bladvak. It means 'pickax.' I don't like to use it in case they think I'm threatening them." He gave a short, booming laugh.

"You wanted to speak with me Mr. Bagman?" Alex said looking at him again.

Bagman twitched, "yes – yes I wanted to ask" — he lowered his voice — "how are you getting on with your golden egg?"

"It goes well." Alex said looking at the ministry official.

"Listen, Alex," he said (still in a very low voice), "I feel very bad about all this . . . you were thrown into this tournament, you didn't volunteer for it, and if I can help at all. . . a prod in the right direction . . . well, just say the word."

Harry stared up into Bagman's round, rosy face and his wide, baby-blue eyes. "You want to help me? Aren't we supposed to work out the clues for ourselves,"

"Well . . . well, yes," said Bagman impatiently, "but — come on, Alexander — we all want a Hogwarts victory, don't we? And a young champion as you would really show Hogwarts´ might.

"So I take it that you haven´t offered the same to Diggory?"

"As said you are a special case plus you act so far have impressed me that is why I gave you the top score.

Alex smiled, but he didn´t trust Bagman´s intentions "it is tempting, but that would ruin my victory so I pass."

Bagman looked almost affronted, "there is no need to get cocky, but then tell me your theory, Alex didn´t get the chance even if he wanted since Fred and George turned up at that point.

"Hello, Mr. Bagman," said Fred brightly. "Can we buy you a drink?"

"Er . . . no," said Bagman, with a last disappointed glance at Alex , "no, thank you, boys . . ." Fred and George looked quite as disappointed as Bagman, who was surveying Alex as though he had let him down badly. "Well, I must dash," he said. "Nice seeing you all. Good luck, Alexander." He hurried out of the pub. The goblins all slid off their chairs and exited after him.

"So what did he want?" Lisa asked, once Alex had gotten to her.

"Nothing much," Alex lied, "I didn´t really get why you had to leave, he just wanted to know how I was doing with the task."

"He is properly just worried; I mean you are the youngest champion."

Alex nodded, "yeah properly, so uh what do you want now? Shopi-" Alex was cut short as Lisa pulled him near a small side street hiding him from the main street. "What:" But Alex closed his mouth as he saw the reason, Rita Skeeter had just walked by and in to the three broomstick. "oh thanks"

"You are welcome, now what I wanted to do is this." Lisa said closing the distance and kissed him, Alex just relaxed and kissed her back.

…

It turned out that things had happened after Rita Skeeter had gone in to the pub. Apparently the golden trio had been there, and the first thing Harry had done was to yell at reporter, who hadn´t been insulted instead just asked if Harry cared then he could give an interview to why he was so close to Hagrid. That had pushed Hermione over the edge and she had yelled and thrown some nasty insults at Skeeter, who had reacted this time. Alex was a bit impressed at Hermione´s actions, but he was sure that Skeeter would retaliate and he wasn´t so sure Hermione was as bulletproof as she thought. However one good thing had come out of it, Hermione had been so angry that she marched to Hagrid´s hut along with Harry and Ron in order to convince him to come back at teaching, they had succeed with the help of professor Dumbledore, who had been there already.

Alex was told of this the next day during a Charms lesson. The four Gryffindors were sitting at the very back of the class with a table to themselves. They were supposed to be practicing the opposite of the Summoning Charm today - the Banishing Charm. Owing to the potential for nasty accidents when objects kept flying across the room. Professor Flitwick had given each student a stack of cushions on which to practice, the theory being that these wouldn't hurt anyone if they went off target. It was a good theory, but it wasn't working very well. Neville's aim was so poor that he kept accidentally sending much heavier things flying across the room towards Professor Flitwick, for instance.

This class was an ideal cover for a private conversation, as everyone was having far too much fun to pay them any attention. So it had been the prefect time for Alex to catch on, it also gave Harry a chance of explaining his latest solo adventure. Apparently Harry had sneaked to the kitchen to visit Dobby or in Alex´s opinion to get some food, and he had witnessed a conversation between Filch, Snape and Moody. Apparently someone had broke into Snape´s office. Harry had seen Marauder's map that it had been Crouch. Harry had also expressed his concerns about having to give the Marauder's map up to Moody who wanted to borrow it. A concern that Alex shared thinking it was stupid to give that away, beside didn´t he had anything to say. His father had created just as much as Harry´s had.

"Snape said Moody's searched his office as well?" Ron whispered, his eyes alight with interest as he Banished a cushion with a sweep of his wand (it soared into the air and nearly hitting Parvati in the head). "What… d'you reckon Moody's here to keep an eye on Snape as well as Karkaroff?"

"Well, I don't know if that's what Dumbledore asked him to do, but he's definitely doing it," Harry said, waving his wand without paying much attention, so that his cushion did a sort of belly flop off the desk. "Moody said that Dumbledore only lets Snape stay here because he's giving him a second chance or something…"

"What?" said Ron, his eyes widening, his next cushion spinning high into the air, ricocheting off the chandelier, and dropping heavily onto Flitwick's desk – was he even trying? "Hey maybe he is the one that is responsible for the whole fourth champion thing."

Alex snorted and banished his cushion across the room in the box perfectly, then turned to Ron. "Nice theory Weasley, but why would Snape want to put my name in the goblet?"

Ron eyed Alex, "Well let us think Black! He hates you because he hates your father so he hates you like he hates Harry," he said and continued in low tone to Harry and Hermione, "although he is nothing like his father." Alex simply rolled his eyes and ignored it.

"Cut it out Ron, and beside." Hermione shocked her heard sceptically at the least sentence and banished a cushion and it flew across the room and landed in the box on tops of Alex´s "-I haven't seen Snape insult Alexander as much as he insults Harry."

"So why are Moody and Crouch searching Snape's office then?" Harry asked. "I doubt they're looking for extra potion ingredients."

"Why has Mr. Crouch been pretending to be ill?" said Hermione in retaliation. "Its a bit funny, isn't it, that he can't manage to come to the Yule Ball, but he can get up here in the middle of the night when he wants to?"

"You just don't like Crouch because of that elf, Winky," said Ron, sending a cushion soaring into the window.

"You just want to think Snape's up to something," said Hermione, sending her cushion zooming neatly into the box.

"I just want to know what Snape did with his first chance, if he's on his second one," said Harry grimly, and his cushion, and looked surprised, when it flew straight across the room and landed neatly on top of Hermione's.

"It could be all sorts of things," Alex said, sending his last cushion to the box on top of Harry's "maybe he could have a dark past her something." Ron, Harry, and Hermione looked at one another thinking that that could be a possibility.

Obedient to Sirius's wish of hearing about anything odd at Hogwarts, Harry told Alex that he would sent Sirius a letter by brown owl that night, explaining all about Mr. Crouch breaking into Snape's office, and Moody and Snape's conversation. Alex instead turned his attention in earnest to the most urgent problem facing him: the second task. Even though he didn't show it on the outside, on the inside, he was getting more and more nervous.

Every time after class, Alex would go to the library school or chamber, searching for anything to help him with holding his breath underwater. He looked everywhere he could think of, and even had permission to go to the Restricted Section, but found nothing useful with the breathing; he had found cures that were effective under water and at the creatures that lived there. Maybe he was looking in the wrong spot.

Hermione, Blaise and Daphne would also help him out, but mostly Blaise as Hermione would be hanging out with Krum and Daphne were often busy. Blaise did have solutions like self-transfiguration but they both agreed that it would be to advance. In the end, Daphne came up with an idea

"The Bubble-Head Charm," she said as Alex and Blaise were sitting at table in the library. "Look I asked Mellissa about how one could breathe under water, and well it is the Bubble-Head Charm."

"Weird that we never found it, I mean we have read almost every book on under water creatures and underwater charms." Blaise said looking at Daphne.

"It isn´t an underwater charm as such. It is used in places that isn´t for humans. It used in caves or toxics environment." Daphne explained handing Alex a book.

"Thanks," Alex said and flipped through the pages and frowned, "it seems complicated though."

"Sixth year spell," Daphne said, "anyway I think you can learn it if I help you, that is uh assuming your girlfriend doesn´t mind us spending time together."

"I doubt that will be a problem," Alex smiled, "Uh what about Silan."

"It will be fine," Daphne said quickly.

And thus the training begun and just as it had before when he faced the Horntail, it felt like time was slipping away as though somebody had bewitched the clocks to go extra-fast. But at least he had plan that he liked this time, and he was making proses. He now was successful at creating the charm most of the times. Soon there was a week before February the 24th, then five days and Alex now spent all his free time studying the charm with Daphne even neglecting Lisa only seeing her in classes.

But luckily she and the rest of Alex´s friends were supportive even Hagrid, who had been feeling better thanks to Dumbledore and Harry, was on his side for support, and he began teaching again too.

Whether Hagrid was trying to make up for the Blast-Ended Skrewts, or because there were now only two skrewts left, or because he was trying to prove he could do anything that Professor Grubbly-Plank could, Alex didn't know, but Hagrid had been continuing her lessons on unicorns ever since he'd returned to work. It turned out that Hagrid knew quite as much about unicorns as he did about monsters, though it was clear that he found their lack of poisonous fangs disappointing.

Today he had managed to capture two unicorn foals. Unlike full-grown unicorns, they were pure gold. Parvati and Lavender went into transports of delight at the sight of them, and even Pansy Parkinson had to work hard to conceal how much she liked them.

"Easier ter spot than the adults," Hagrid told the class. "They turn silver when they're abou' two years old, an' they grow horns at aroun four. Don' go pure white till they're full grown, 'round about seven. They're a bit more trustin when they're babies… don mind boys so much… C'mon, move in a bit, yeh can pat 'em if yeh want… give 'em a few o' these sugar lumps…

"You alrigh' Alexander?" Hagrid muttered, moving aside slightly, while most of the others swarmed around the baby unicorns.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Alex replied.

"Jus' nervous, eh?" said Hagrid.

"Just a bit," Alex said.

"Alex," said Hagrid, clapping a massive hand on his shoulder, so that Alex´s knees buckled under its weight, "I'd've bin worried before I saw yeh take on tha Horntail, but I know now yeh can do anythin' yeh set yer mind ter. I'm not worried at all. Yeh're goin ter be fine. Got yer clue worked out, haven' yeh?"

Alex nodded, "yes I have and I am so close at being ready."

"Yeh're goin' ter win," Hagrid growled, patting Alex´s shoulder again. "I know it. I can feel it. Yeh're goin' ter win, Alex."

The second after the class was finished; Alex and Daphne gathered their things and went to an empty classroom.

"Okay you got this Alex," Daphne said. They had worked for hours, but now Alex had just produced a bubble that covered his head. It had survived Daphne poking it with her fingers a needle and wand.

"Yeah I think so too, I just whished that I had more time exploring the lake, but at least now I breathe."

"Yeah," Daphne said sounded concerned.

Alex cancelled the charm and looked at her, "hey what is wrong," he said touching her arm.

"It is just that well it is not meant for underwater exploring. I mean you vision will be limited with the spell and your mobility is the same with or without the spell." Daphne sat down at the floor. "I just want you to get through this Alex, and I wonder if I have helped you enough."

"You have Daph," Alex said sitting next to her, "you are the reason that I have a chance at the task. I will get though it and find the thing I solely miss."

"Have you figured out what it is yet?"

"Not sure, maybe the gift my mother gave me last Christmas."

"Maybe it could be Lisa!" Daphne said not looking at Alex, but her voice still sounded as cold as it usually did when she talked about her.

"What makes you say that?"

"Well it just hit me that it might be a person. And well then it could be your girlfriend."

"Yeah maybe," Alex said looking away from Daphne. It hadn´t hit until now, he had really liked spending this time with Daphne, really liked it. He hadn´t even thought much about Lisa, this sucked! He had finally gotten in to a good time with Lisa and he figured out his feelings and was ready letting those he had for Daphne go, but now he just wanted to kiss her, hugging her and tell that he loved her.

"You guys are okay right?" Daphne said laying her hand on Alex´s

"Yeah we are it just well uh we haven´t really been seeing much to each other lately." Alex said as he felt his heart hammer in his chest.

"Well she will be impressed when you rescue her." Alex didn´t say anything, he just enjoyed sitting next to Daphne holding her hand.

"Yeah," Alex said looking at Daphne. She noticed and both teens blushed. It was then Alex realized that he had made a mistake. He didn´t like Lisa, not as much as he liked Daphne anyway, he should end things with her he should do it before he did something that hurt her. He really should before he did something really stupid – without knowing it he had moved closer to Daphne´s head and their lips connected. It lasted mere seconds when Daphne pulled away. Alex immediately felt guilty he had kissed Daphne - he had cheated on Lisa. This was wrong, he shouldn't have yet it had felt good kissing her.

"We shouldn't Alex, I mean Lisa and Silan." She said standing up.

Alex blushed madly standing up as well, "yeah sorry I wasn´t thinking."

Daphne was silent for a moment, "it is okay, I mean nothing happened really, just a heat of the moment right."

Alex nodded "still sorry, it was me, I wasn´t thinking."

"It is okay, "Daphne, said moving closer towards him, "it wasn´t that bad." She added still walking closer. "It was rather good actually."

Alex was confused; she had pulled back from the kiss. but now she was close again, did she want to kiss? He wanted to do it, but he shouldn't.

However before Alex could do anything, footsteps were heard outside causing them to pull away, both blushing. Alex felt relived; it would have been wrong for him to kiss Daphne again. Alex looked over Daphne´s shoulder at the door hoping it wasn´t Lisa and was relived to see it was just Erik Jensen and Luna Lovegood.

"Uh sorry, we didn´t mean to interrupt," Erik muttered.

"You wasn´t, we uh just testing Alex´s Bubble-Head Charm." Daphne said, Alex took the hint and cast the charm as quietly as he could, lucky Daphne covered it with a cough, then stepping in the two Ravenclaws view cancelled the charm, a bit surprised how essay the casting was now.

"Uh you uh have a way of breathing underwater then!" Erik said obviously not buying the lie, "then I-"

Erik was interrupted by Luna who were elbowing him. "Just tell them."

"Tell me what?"

Erik look at Alex. "Right uh I heard from Draco and Blaise that you were looking for a way of breathing under water and well I wanted to tell you about I just read. It is called the gillyweed plant."

"Gilly-what?" Alex said, looking at Erik.

"Gillyweed," Erik repeated. "It's a magical plant native to the Mediterranean Sea. When it is eaten by a witch or wizard grows gills and webbing between their fingers and toes, allowing them to process oxygen from water."

"What about navigating?" Daphne asked.

"Uh that would be easier too."

"Alex that could really work better than the Bubble-Head Charm."

"How long does the effect last?" Alex asked liking the idea.

"About an hour, I think." Erik said. "I mean there are some debate among Herbologists as to the duration of the effects of Gillyweed in fresh water versus salt water, but the effects of Gillyweed in fresh water seem to last about an hour."

"Okay that is brilliant," Alex said, "so that Gillyweed what does it look like."

"Well, it sort of resembles a bundle of slimy, grey-green rat tails," Erik answered, "Uh I actually think there might something you know."

Alex immediately knew where Erik was talking about and smiled a bit at his attempt to keep the secret. "Thanks Erik, thanks Luna," Alex said making them smile before leaving. Alex faced Daphne, "you been great Daph."

Daphne smiled, "yeah, but you should use Erik´s idea, then switch to the bubble heard if the effects runs out." Alex smiled and hugged her and she hugged him back, they stood there for a while until they realized what they were doing, both blushed madly as they separated.

"So I cheek the chamber and I will see you tomorrow?" He said awkwardly.

Daphne just nodded and Alex left to the chamber where he jumped in joy as he found a large collection of Gillyweed, now there was just the issue with Daphne and Lisa. Suddenly the second task seamed easy in comparison.

…

Chapter end.